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Articles by Max Dike
Podcast covers rise of Missouri-born pop star Chappell Roan
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines the rise of Chappell Roan, the pop music star with southwest Missouri roots. Plus, the show covers retail trends expected to shape this holiday shopping season. Business Brief is a podcast covering business news and issues shaping the state. Find more Business Brief on our website or wherever you get podcasts.
Business Brief: What would a $15 minimum wage mean for Missouri?
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines potential consequences of a measure that would raise Missouri’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. Then, the show features a conversation with the state official tasked with making things more equitable in the booming cannabis industry. Business Brief is a podcast covering business news and issues shaping the state. Find more Business Brief on our website or wherever you get podcasts.
Business podcast covers Missouri sports gambling, craft beer
This week's episode of the Business Brief podcast examines what a proposal to legalize sports betting in Missouri really means for education funding. Then, the show covers competing craft beer brewers coming together for the good of the industry. Business Brief is a podcast covering business news and issues shaping the state. Find more Business Brief on our website or wherever you get podcasts.
Business Brief: Brews and tunes
This week's episode of Business Brief explores Kansas City’s stake in the Latin music industry with The Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra and a Feast Week that highlights dozens of Black-owned restaurants and a brewery. Business Brief is a podcast covering business news and issues shaping the state. Find more Business Brief on our website or wherever you get podcasts.
Parents sit-in at CPS board meeting, claim lack of support for Black students
COLUMBIA — A group of about 20 parents and community organizers attended the meeting to raise awareness of the lack of support the district’s Black students receive and how their achievement in the classroom lags because of it, organizer Brittany Fatoma said. Fatoma and her allies have been attending and speaking at board meetings for months, she said. By showing up to this meeting in large numbers, Fatoma hopes the district will see how committed the group is.
CPS board to vote Monday on new attendance boundaries
After several months of planning and gathering feedback, the Columbia School Board is scheduled to finalize the district’s new attendance boundaries Monday night. Woolpert, the district’s consultant on attendance area realignment, will present a final recommended map based on feedback about the four final options unveiled in June. The board will hold a final vote toward the end of the meeting.
CPS board to vote Monday on new attendance boundaries
By Max Dike After several months of planning and gathering feedback, the Columbia School Board is scheduled to finalize the district's new attendance area boundaries Monday night. Woolpert, the district's consultant on attendance area realignment, will present a final recommended map based on feedback about the four final options unveiled in June. The board will hold a final vote toward the end of the meeting.
People prefer maps that leave high school boundaries alone
About 1,100 people responded to a survey asking for feedback on the final four Columbia Public Schools attendance area maps, district Chief Operating Officer Lazell Ofield said Thursday. His report was part of the Columbia School Board's annual retreat held at Stephens College.
Columbia School Board retreat: People prefer maps that leave high school boundaries alone
About 1,100 people responded to a survey asking for feedback on the final four Columbia Public Schools attendance area maps, district Chief Operating Officer Lazell Ofield said Thursday. His report was part of the Columbia School Board's annual retreat held at Stephens College. Ofield said the community appears to favor options A-1 and A-2, which do not move high school attendance areas.
CPS Policy Committee approves new steps for suicide awareness, intervention
By Max Dike,Elizabeth Brixey Columbia Public Schools' Policy Committee unanimously voted to expand district policy on suicide awareness and prevention Monday to create more response options for staff. The update includes reorganizing district suicide response teams, detailing how district employees can help students return to school after a suicide attempt and outlining steps to monitor online students' social/emotional health.
CPS board discusses attendance maps, approves 2024-25 budget
Members of the Columbia School Board and Columbia Public Schools' administration re-familiarized themselves with the district's geography Monday night as they studied potential new attendance area maps. Karen Jackson from Woolpert, the district's realignment consultant, presented the four maps, which are the finalists for Phases 2 and 3 of the district's attendance area realignment process, which will take effect in 2025 and 2026. A vote for a final map is expected at the board's July 8 meeting.
CPS board discusses attendance maps, approves 2024-25 budget
Members of the Columbia School Board and Columbia Public Schools' administration re-familiarized themselves with the district's geography Monday night as they studied potential new attendance area maps. Karen Jackson from Woolpert, the district's realignment consultant, presented the four maps, which are the finalists for Phases 2 and 3 of the district's attendance area realignment process, which will take effect in 2025 and 2026. A vote for a final map is expected at the board's July 8 meeting.
CPS board to review final map options, next year's budget, public comment changes
By Max Dike,Elizabeth Brixey The Columbia School Board will get a formal look Monday at the four attendance area maps in the running for final selection and hear about their benefits and drawbacks. The attendance area map options were presented to the board's Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee on Wednesday and posted to Columbia Public Schools' website, cpsk12.org, for public review.
CPS revenues, expenditures continue to climb in proposed budget
District Chief Financial Officer Heather McArthur led members of the Columbia School Board and district administration through the proposed budget Wednesday night as part of a state-required hearing. The board will vote on the budget at its regular meeting Monday.
As CPS tries to shake off pandemic, school attendance is on the rise
By Max Dike,Elizabeth Brixey More kids are back in Columbia Public Schools classrooms, a continuation of the district's return to normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the district, attendance is up from the past two years, district Chief Equity Officer Carla London said. As of Dec. 14, district-wide attendance was at 82% of students attending school 90% of the time, up from 79% of students last school year.
As CPS tries to shake off pandemic, school attendance is on the rise
More kids are back in Columbia Public Schools classrooms, a continuation of the district’s return to normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the district, attendance is up from the past two years, district Chief Equity Officer Carla London said. As of Dec. 14, district-wide attendance was at 82% of students attending school 90% of the time, up from 79% of students last school year. Raising student attendance is critical for student achievement, Superintendent Brian Yearwood said.
Community members protest for school safety before CPS Board Meeting
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CPS board to hear from consultant on realignment plans
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CPS board to hear from consultant on realignment plans
Cooperative Strategies LLC will address the Columbia School Board at its regular meeting on Monday to discuss its role in Columbia Public Schools’ ongoing attendance area realignment process. The board voted to enlist Cooperative Strategies in the planning process at its Nov. 13 meeting. The consulting group will help the district gather demographic data and recommend new attendance boundaries.
CPS Board previews attendance area plan, contracts consulting group
The Columbia School Board approved an agreement with Cooperative Strategies LLC, a California-based education consultant, to assist in the process of attendance area realignment. The agreement will cost Columbia Public Schools a little over $97,000 and run through June 2024, with two one-year renewal options. While no changes will be made to attendance areas this school year, the approval marks the beginning of a three-phase realignment process that will unfold throughout fall 2026.
CPS Board previews attendance area plan, brings on consulting group
The Columbia School Board approved an agreement with Cooperative Strategies LLC, a California-based education consultant, to assist in the process of attendance area realignment. The agreement will cost Columbia Public Schools a little over $97,000 and run through June 2024, with two one-year renewal options. While no changes will be made to attendance areas this school year, the approval marks the beginning of a three-phase realignment process that will unfold through fall of 2026.
CPS board to vote on consulting service for attendance area realignment
The Columbia School Board will vote on a bid submitted by Cooperative Strategies, LLC, to help Columbia Public Schools realign its attendance areas. If accepted, Cooperative Strategies will create enrollment projections and provide boundary analysis services for the Columbia School District.
CPS international teachers increase diversity, fill vacancies
One rainy October morning, a rambunctious pack of Gentry Middle School sixth graders was ushered into their 11:18 a.m. science class by their teacher, Christian Nakeli, and began taking their seats. The students kept up their chatter for most of the period, but Nakeli calmly and methodically led the day’s lesson on Newton’s Third Law of Motion, answering clarifying questions and leading the class through a slideshow presentation.
CPS to reevaluate policy on public participation at board meetings
The Columbia School Board's Policy Committee is seeking to make language in its policy on public participation at board meetings easier for the public to understand. The committee had been scheduled to approve revisions to what is formally known as policy BDDH-1 on public participation at meetings on Oct. 16, but it voted to send the policy back to administration to be drafted again. The committee will vote on the rewritten draft in November.
CPS board renews transportation contract, hears achievement update
The Columbia School Board voted 6-0 to renew its contract with Student Transportation of America for the 2024-25 school year, via a one-year renewal option at its meeting Monday night. Board member Blake Willoughby was the lone board member absent. The district’s three-year contract with STA was approved in 2019 and came with two, one-year renewal options. In picking up the option, the daily rates to use STA’s various vehicles will increase by 2%, as stipulated in the original contract.
CPS board to hear updates on transportation, summer school
Student transportation will be the main focus of the Columbia School Board meeting Monday. The board will vote on whether to renew the district’s contract with Student Transportation of America, consider partnering with a student transportation consulting group, approve bus routes and hear an update on the district’s transportation services. The three-year contract with STA was agreed to in 2019 and came with two one-year renewal options, according to board documents.
CPS board to hear updates on transportation, summer school
Student transportation will be the main focus of the Columbia School Board meeting Monday. The board will vote on whether to renew the district’s contract with Student Transportation of America, consider partnering with a student transportation consulting group, approve bus routes and hear an update on the district’s transportation services. The three-year contract with STA was agreed to in 2019 and came with two one-year renewal options, according to board documents.
CPS board to address legislative priorities at October meeting
The Columbia School Board plans to vote on its legislative priorities for the 2023-24 school year at the next regular meeting Oct. 9, said board President Suzette Waters at a Sept. 22 work session. Legislative priorities are a list of positions the board takes on potential legislative actions related to education, and they are updated every year. School board member Paul Harper said these priorities mostly apply to state legislation, but can include federal items as well.
Most CPS teaching jobs are filled; more paraprofessionals, aides are needed
Five weeks into the new school year, Columbia Public Schools has 6.5 classroom teaching vacancies. That's out of 1,391 full-time equivalent teaching positions across the district. At the beginning of the school year last month, the district was "almost completely staffed," Chief Human Resources Officer Michelle Holz said in a presentation. The half-time vacancy has been open since the summer, but the others are new and came about for a variety of reasons.
CPS board to vote on policy revisions to summer school, reading support
The Columbia School Board's Policy Committee passed along a slew of revised policies to the full board Monday afternoon, including ones concerning summer school, student retention and reading support plans. Several policies were revised in accordance with (2022), which sets guidelines surrounding reading assessment and intervention.
CPS board members debate shuttle service for international teachers
After tense discussion Monday night, the Columbia School Board approved an agreement with First/Last Mile Valet Service Transportation to provide transportation services for Columbia Public Schools international teachers, who are teaching as part of the International Alliance Group teacher exchange program. The service will be used to bring teachers to and from the schools they are working at.
CPS board to hear achievement, work-based learning updates
In its first meeting of the new school year, the Columbia School Board will hear updates on the district’s achievement and workplace development efforts. Superintendent Brian Yearwood will provide the board with an update on the district’s Continuous School Improvement Plan, a state-mandated, five-year plan approved by the board last year. The report will focus on what the district is doing to address its goals regarding attendance, discipline and achievement.
CPS board to hear achievement, work-based learning updates
In its first meeting of the new school year, the Columbia School Board will hear updates on the district’s achievement and workplace development efforts. Superintendent Brian Yearwood will provide the board with an update on the district’s Continuous School Improvement Plan, a state-mandated, five-year plan approved by the board last year. The report will focus on what the district is doing to address its goals regarding attendance, discipline and achievement.
CPS previews design plans for new elementary school
Parents, teachers and concerned members from community groups showed their interest in Columbia Public Schools’ new elementary school at an open house showcasing its new designs Tuesday afternoon. The open house was held in John Warner Middle School's media center, which sits just south of where the new school will be located.
CPS board picks new committee community reps
Members of the Columbia School Board voted in community member representatives to the Finance, Long-Range Facilities Planning and Policy committees Monday. Three School Board members serve on each committee: Blake Willoughby, John Lyman and Paul Harper on the Finance Committee; Willoughby, Lyman and April Ferrao on the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee; and Harper, Ferrao and Karen Hayes on the Policy Committee.
New CPS administrators introduced at meet and greet
New Columbia Public Schools administrators met Monday night with the public during a meet and greet at Hickman High School. The positions were approved at the Columbia School Board meeting in December. They were created to "better address academic and curricular delivery needs," district spokesperson Michelle Baumstark said in a letter to families last week.
Hayes sworn in, CPS board approves 2023-24 fiscal budget
The Columbia School Board unanimously approved its operating budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year Monday night. The budget includes $269.8 million for expenditures and expects Columbia Public Schools to generate $268 million in revenue. The difference should be paid for with funds accrued from previous years, according to board documents. The district plans to add about 25 new positions, said Heather McArthur, the district’s chief financial officer, at the June 7 budget hearing.
Hayes sworn in, CPS board approves 2023-24 fiscal budget
The Columbia School Board unanimously approved its operating budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year Monday night. The budget includes $269.8 million for expenditures and expects Columbia Public Schools to generate $268 million in revenue. The difference should be paid for with funds accrued from previous years, according to board documents. The district plans to add about 25 new positions, said Heather McArthur, the district’s chief financial officer, at the June 7 budget hearing.
Yearwood talks student achievement, attendance at Chamber of Commerce
Superintendent Brian Yearwood identified three key ways community members can support Columbia Public Schools students. By supporting individual schools, encouraging kids to go to school and connecting struggling students with mentors, people in Columbia can help the district meet its academic goals, Yearwood said in a Thursday conversation with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Yearwood addressed about 40 people as part of the chamber’s ongoing Lunch with a Leader series.
Sasser resigns from CPS board, plans to leave Missouri over trans legislation
Katherine Sasser announced her plan to resign from the Columbia School Board on Monday evening. She will formally file her resignation Tuesday, she said. Sasser said her resignation stemmed from her family’s decision to move from Missouri. She shared Monday — and in a February board meeting — that her family has been targeted by legislation attacking LGBTQ+ and transgender youth.
Fourth graders paint, set sail on Missouri River Days
An excited group of fourth graders from Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School fell nearly silent on Monday afternoon at Cooper's Landing, completely engrossed in their watercolor paintings. The students sat before the Missouri River where each took a pencil, paper and watercolor paint. At the instruction of Wildy Self, a local art teacher, the students were given the opportunity to visually record what they saw in front of them, like Lewis and Clark had done on their westward expeditions.
Fourth-graders paint, hit the waterl on Missouri River Days
An excited group of fourth-graders from Alpha Hart Lewis Elementary School fell nearly silent on Monday afternoon at Cooper's Landing, completely engrossed in their watercolor paintings. The students sat near the Missouri River where each took a pencil, paper and watercolor paint. At the instruction of Wildy Self, a local art teacher, the students were given the opportunity to visually record what they saw in front of them, like Lewis and Clark had done on their westward expeditions.
CPS board votes on governance strategies, superintendent evaluation process
The Columbia School Board voted unanimously Thursday to help field test a set of governance practices as well as participate in a pilot process for superintendent evaluation. The "Continuum of Effective Governance Practices," created by Janet Tilley, senior director of research for the Missouri School Boards' Association, includes 10 principles that research indicates help connect board governance and increased student achievement, she said.
CPS board elects Suzette Waters as president, welcomes new members
The Columbia School Board elected Suzette Waters to serve as new board president by a vote of 5-1 at the board's reorganization meeting on Monday night. Member Blake Willoughby nominated and voted for himself for president but lost the vote to Waters. New member John Lyman abstained. The reorganization meeting occurred prior to the board's regular session and was chaired by Superintendent Brian Yearwood. Newly elected members April Ferrao, Paul Harper and Lyman were also sworn onto the board.
CPS board to welcome new members, vote on bargaining agreement Monday
The Columbia School Board will welcome its newly elected members during a reorganization meeting Monday evening. The board’s regular session meeting will immediately follow. April Ferrao, Paul Harper and John Lyman will be sworn in to replace current board President David Seamon, Vice President Chris Horn and member Helen Wade. The board will elect a new president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. It will also appoint a Missouri School Boards’ Association delegate.
CPS board to welcome new members, vote on bargaining agreement Monday
The Columbia School Board will welcome its newly elected members during a reorganization meeting Monday evening. The board’s regular session meeting will immediately follow. April Ferrao, Paul Harper and John Lyman will be sworn in to replace current board President David Seamon, Vice President Chris Horn and member Helen Wade. The board will elect a new president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. It will also appoint a Missouri School Boards’ Association delegate.
Ferrao, Harper and Lyman secure seats on CPS board
Voters elected April Ferrao, Paul Harper and John Lyman to fill three open seats on the Columbia School Board. Ferrao was the top vote-getter out of the seven candidates Tuesday evening with 11,521 votes. Harper received the second-highest total with 9,642 votes. Lyman, in third place and the final candidate to win a spot on the board, garnered 8,821. Four candidates lost the race, including former state representative Chuck Basye, who received 7,732 votes.
Ferrao looks to bring years of CPS experience to School Board
When April Ferrao made the decision to run for the Columbia School Board, she had to quit her job at the city's Health Department, one of her favorite jobs ever. City law states employees must take a leave of absence if they run for public office and resign immediately if they are elected. This reality put Ferrao, who had worked for the city for just about a year, in a difficult spot. She initially took a leave, but it expired Monday, she said. “It was a really hard decision,” Ferrao said.
CPS board candidates talk district performance, workforce prep at forum
Candidates in the Columbia School Board race spoke on workforce preparation and the Columbia Public Schools’ Annual Performance Report at a forum hosted by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Tuesday. Paul Harper, John Potter, James Gordon, John Lyman, April Ferrao, Chuck Basye and incumbent School Board Vice President Chris Horn attended the forum at the Missouri State High School Activities Association. Hannah Larrick, co-chair of the Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee, moderated.
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